By Mihir Bose
Although the question of who will be the next owner of Liverpool football club is still to be answered. It is understood that George Gillett, the American who owns the NHL ice hockey team the Montreal Canadians, has not given up hope of taking control of the Merseyside club.
Last Friday, David Moores, chairman of Liverpool, indicated that he would sell the club to Dubai International Capital group (DIC), the investment company owned by Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Moores' reason for preferring the Middle Eastern option rather than the American, was that he felt DIC would have deeper pockets and offer Liverpool the resources to match Roman Abramovich's Chelsea.
It is understood that there is virtually no price differential between the two bidders, both valuing the shares of Liverpool Football Club at around £160 million, willing to cover debts which are around £50 million and invest another £250 million in the new stadium that the club is building and for which money is desperately required. In addition, there would be some money for investment in players making a total of around £450 million.
However, despite the riches of Al-Maktoum, the Dubai company is in the habit of investing in assets and then selling them on, usually at a profit. DIC's chief executive, Sameer al-Ansari, despite being a Liverpool fan, is unlikely to be another Abramovich.
Gillett, having been alerted to the riches of the Premiership by fellow Americans Malcolm Glazer and Randy Lerner, who bought Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively, will argue that he has the experience of making sporting investments and running clubs.
At the moment DIC are in no position to complete the takeover of Liverpool, who have been seeking a buyer for more than two years. In the meantime, Gillett is determined not to give up and the next few days could see a scramble to win over Moores. The Liverpool chairman has said DIC is his preferred buyer, but Gillett is still in the hunt.
Although the question of who will be the next owner of Liverpool football club is still to be answered. It is understood that George Gillett, the American who owns the NHL ice hockey team the Montreal Canadians, has not given up hope of taking control of the Merseyside club.
Last Friday, David Moores, chairman of Liverpool, indicated that he would sell the club to Dubai International Capital group (DIC), the investment company owned by Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Moores' reason for preferring the Middle Eastern option rather than the American, was that he felt DIC would have deeper pockets and offer Liverpool the resources to match Roman Abramovich's Chelsea.
It is understood that there is virtually no price differential between the two bidders, both valuing the shares of Liverpool Football Club at around £160 million, willing to cover debts which are around £50 million and invest another £250 million in the new stadium that the club is building and for which money is desperately required. In addition, there would be some money for investment in players making a total of around £450 million.
However, despite the riches of Al-Maktoum, the Dubai company is in the habit of investing in assets and then selling them on, usually at a profit. DIC's chief executive, Sameer al-Ansari, despite being a Liverpool fan, is unlikely to be another Abramovich.
Gillett, having been alerted to the riches of the Premiership by fellow Americans Malcolm Glazer and Randy Lerner, who bought Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively, will argue that he has the experience of making sporting investments and running clubs.
At the moment DIC are in no position to complete the takeover of Liverpool, who have been seeking a buyer for more than two years. In the meantime, Gillett is determined not to give up and the next few days could see a scramble to win over Moores. The Liverpool chairman has said DIC is his preferred buyer, but Gillett is still in the hunt.
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